Tumbling toy



Dec. 20, 1960 Filed NOV. '17, 1958 V. E. BAILEY TUMBLING TOY 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. VIRGIN/A EBA/LE) BYMMW;

ATTORNEYS.

V. E. BAILEY Dec. 20, 1960 TUMBLING TOY Filed Nov. 17, 1958' 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ////MT/7P I N VEN TOR. Vl/PG/A/l/i E BAIL E V ML ma/\ v 6o J .P/JQI/ /& F

2,964,875 TUMBLING TOY Virginia E. Bailey, 99 Calla Ave., Floral Park, N.Y.

Filed Nov. 17, 1958, seam. 774,451

13 Claims. c1. 46-130) This invention relates to toys, and moreparticularly to a tumbling figure toy.

and 22. Thestuds are quite short, as will be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, andpreferably have thin heads 24 at theirends. f p I 4 It Referring now toFig. 6, the tumbling figure includes a somewhat H-shaped piece 26defining two spaced holes 28 and 30 which are large enough to receiveand to than the spacing between the studs.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improvetumbling figure toys. I V

A more particular object is to provide a tumbling figure toy which isamusing and at the same time somewhat mysterious in its action becausethe mechanism is concealed by the tumbling figure.

The figure operates gravitationally and descends a post,

One object of the present in.-

tumbling. as it descends. vention is to increase the apparent action andacrobatturn freely around the .studs. The piece 26 also has narrowerapproach slots 32 and 34, from the ends of the pieces to the holes 28and 30. These slots are dimensioned tofreely receive the studs edgewise,but not crosswise. In Fig. 6 it will also be seen that the piece 26 islonger than the spacing or clearance between the studs, but at the sametime the distance between the upper hole 28 and the lower end of thepiece, or between the lower hole 30 and the upper end of the piece, isless The fiat faces of the stud are in the direction of the post, andthe entrant end or mouth of the slots 32 and 34 is preferably divergentin orderv to more readily find and slide down a subjacent stud.

The H-shaped piece 26 is preferably concealed by a substantially largerfigure, generally designated 38. In

ics of the toy figure, for which purpose the head is piv- 1 oted andweighted so that it rotates relative to the body of the figure as ittumbles.

A further object is to improve the gravitational action of the toy, andI have found that this may be done by disposing the post in a somewhatsloping instead of truly.

upright position.

Still another object of the invention iskto improve the packaging of thetoy for compactnessfwhile providinga relatively long post for longermaintained operation of the toy, and for this purpose the post and itssupporting base are arranged in knock-down or come-apart relation. r Toaccomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific.objects which will hereinafter ap pear, my invention resides inthetumbling toy elements and their relation one to another as arehereinafter more particularly described in the following specification.The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. l in an elevational viewshowing atoy embodying featuresof myinvention; j i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view' drawn to enlarged scale and explanatory ofthe operation ofthe figureas it tumbles through. a half turn; f

Fig. 3 is a, similar'view explanatory of the operation of the figure asit tumbles through another'half turn;

the present case the figure 38 simulates a clown with outstretched arms40 and legs 42 as well as a head 44. However, it will be understoodthatyvarious figures and posts may be simulated, forexample a monkeydescending the trunk of a palm tree. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, thefigure 38 is secured in front of the piece 26, and is spaced therefromenough to clear the heads 24 of the studs. In the present case this isdone by using a spacer 46 disposed crosswise between the holes 28 and 30as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, but a different number and'locationof spacers may be employed, so long as the spacers do not interfere withthe studs and the heads thereof. Reverting now to Fig. 1, the lower slotof the H- shaped piece may be slid downwardly over the uppermost studand released, whereupon it turns as indicated by the successive brokenline positions 38 and 38" in Fig. 1. The slope of the post encourages aself-starting rotation in counterclockwise rotation as viewed in Fig. 1.If the post is sloped toward the right instead of toward the left, thefigure will tumble in clockwise direction.

When the figure reaches the inverted upright position shown in Fig. 1,it continues turning somewhat further by inertia, and when the axis ofthe figure is parallel i to the post, the figure slides downward on tothe next stud. This is shown in Fig. 6 in which the piece 26 has Fig.;4is a section takenapproximately "in the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 2;] p

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken approximately'in the plane of line55 of Fig. 2; k

Fig. 6 is a section taken approximately infthe plane of line 6-6 of Fig.4 and is also a rear View of the tumbling figure; f l l Fig. 7 is asection taken approximately in'the plane of. line 7 -7 of Fig. l butdrawn to enlarged scale;

, )Fig, 8 is a section takenapproximately in the plane of line 8-8 ofFig. .7;

Fig. 9 is a section taken approximately in the plane of line 9-9 of Fig.1, but drawn to larger'scale as in Figs. 7.and 8; and

Fig. 10 ,is a transverse section taken approximately in theplane'ofline10--10 ofFig. 9.

.Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, th'e toycomprises a nearly upright but preferably sloping .post 12 carrying aline of preferably uniformly spaced studs 14. These studs are flattenedin the direction of the post, 'as' is best shown in Fig.6 at 16, 18, "20

already slid partway downward, and it will be understood that oncompletion of the downward movement, the hole 30 will move all the waydown onto the stud 20, while the slot 32 will leave and clear the stud18.

At this time the figure is in unstable equilibrium and is slopingbecause of the slope of the post, and therefore the figure continuesturning for another half revolution, and so descends the post all theway from top to small wood screw 54 which is kept loose so that the headwill turn freely on the figure. Referring now to Fig. 2, the faceportion 44 is simulatedly wearing a duncecap 56 and there is a rufile orcollar portion 58. Because of its configuration, the dunce cap 56 islight compared to the collar portion 58. The entire piece may forconvenience'be referred to as a head assembly. The pivot screw-54 islocated near the top of the head." 'For both Fatented,Dec. 20,19 6 0 3 rreasons the pivot is so located that the center of mass of the headassembly is well below the pivot 54, so that the head assembly remainsupright during the tumbling rotation of the figure, and appears to berotating in grotesque fashion relative to the figure.

This will be clear from inspection of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In Figs. 1 and2, when the body has turned to the position 38", the head is in theposition 44', and when the body has turned to the position 38", the headis in the position 44". In Fig. 3, when the body is in the invertedsolid line position 38, the head is in position 44. When the body hasturned to the broken line position 38', the head is in the position 44',and when the body has turned to upright position 38" the head is in theposition 44". be understood that although the head assembly is merelyremaining upright throughout this action, the appearance is much morecomplex because the head appears to be twisting and turning relative tothe body.

The rotation of the head assembly helps improve the gravitational actionof the toy, although this detail is not essential to successfuloperation. More specifically, when the toy starts to tumble, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the pivoting of the head moves the center of mass of theentire figure outward in the position 38. This is so because the centerof mass of the head assembly moves further from the mid-region or pivothole of the figure. This speeds up and makes more dependable the turningof the figure, and the center of mass and leverage is still furtherincreased in the position 38". The rotation is thus readily anddependably carried beyond dead center to the point where the figure isparallel to the post and slides down over the next lower stud.

It is now the leg portion rather than the arm portion which is causingcontinued rotation of the figure, as shown in Fig. 3, and at this timethe center of mass of the head assembly moves inward toward the pivothole of the figure, thus decreasing the mass of the arm portion of thefigure, which in a relative sense, means increasing the efiective massof the leg portion of the figure, and so improving the speed anddependability of the continued rotation. Finally, as the figureapproaches the upright position shown at 38 in Fig. 3, the center ofmass of the head assembly is moved still closer to center, so that theoverall mass is biased still further in the direction of insuringcompletion of rotation beyond dead center to a position parallel to thepost, so that the figure will slide down over the next lower stud.

It is desirable that the post be made rather long so that the tumblingaction willcontinue for considerable time. It is also preferable toprovide for compact packaging of the toy for shipment and storage in thestore and at home. For this purpose the post 12 is preferably made oftwo readily separable halves 60 and 62. These .have mating means attheir adjacent ends. More specifically, and referring to Figs. 1, 9 and10, one half 62 has a socket portion 64 dimensioned to receive theadjacent end of the portion 60. Referring to Fig. 9, the upper end ofpart 62 is cut away, leaving a tenon 66 to receive a matingly cut awaypart of post 60, leaving a tenon 68. The relation of the parts as theycome together is shown by thebroken line position 60' with its tenon 68.v

The two-part post is also detachably related to the base 52, andreferring to Figs. 7 and '8, the base 52 is cut away at 70 to receivethe lower end of post 62. A pin 72 extends across the slot 70 and thelower end of post 62 is itself upwardlynotched or slotted as shown at74. With this arrangement the post is readily inserted downward over thepin 72 and the post-thereupon remains in position, its slope beinglimited by engagement at the point 76.

It should and uniformly spaced. In Fig. 10, it will be seen that theforward edges 80 of the socket 64 terminate a littlebehind the frontface 82 of the post, thus leaving the front surface of the post ascontinuous and as unobstructed as though the post were made in a singlepiece.

It is believed that the construction and operation of my improvedtumbling toy, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent fromthe foregoing detailed description. The dispositionof the figure infront of the H-shaped piece conceals the latter, and conceals the mannerin which it slides down and around the successive studs. An observer whodoes not study the back of I the toy is puzzled as well as amused by theacrobatic Whatever form of socket is provided for joining the .thejfrontfacesremainflush with the studsin' alignment performance of the toy asit descends the post. The simulated acrobatics and the performance ofthe toy are enhanced by the pivoting of the head assembly.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my inventionin a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure shown, withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as sought to be defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A tumbling toy comprising a nearly upright but sloping post carryinga line of uniformly spaced studs, said studs being flattened in thedirection of the post and having heads, a somewhat H-shaped piecedefining two spaced holes large enough to receive and turn around on thestuds, with narrower approach slots from the ends of said piece to saidholes dimensioned to receive the studs edgewise but not crosswise, saidpiece being longer than the spacing between the studs, and the distancebetween either hole and the remote end of the piece being less than thespacing between the studs, whereby the piece when placed on a top studturns a half turn edgewise and slides to a next lower stud whereupon itcontinues turning another half turn edgewise and slides to a still lowerstud, and so on.

2. A tumbling toy comprising a post carrying a line of studs, said studsbeing flattened in the direction of the post, a somewhat H-shaped piecedefining two spaced holes large enough to receive and turn around on thestuds, with narrower approach slots from the ends of said piece to saidholes dimensioned to receive the studs edgewise but not crosswise, saidpiece being longer than the spacing between the studs, and the distancebetween either hole and the remote end of the piece being less than thespacing between the studs, a figure larger than said piece secured infront of said piece, whereby the figure when placed on a top stud turnsa half turn edgewise and slides to a next lower stud whereupon itcontinues turning another half turn edgewise and slides to a still lowerstud, and so on.

3. A tumbling toy comprising a post carrying a line of studs, said studsbeing flattened in the direction of the post and having heads, asomewhat H-s'haped piece defining two spaced holes large enough toreceive and turn around on the studs, with narrower approach slots fromthe ends of said piece to said holes dimensioned to receive the studsedgewise but not crosswise, said piece being longer than the spacingbetween the studs, and the distance between either hole and the remoteend of the piece being less than the spacing between the studs, a figurelarger than said piece secured in front of said pieceand spacedtherefrom enough to clear the heads of the studs, whereby the figurewhen placed on a top stud turns a half turn and slides to a next lowerstud whereupon it continues turning another half turn and slides to astill lower stud, and so on.

4. A tumbling toy comprising a nearly upright but sloping post carryinga line of uniformly spacedlstuds, said studs being flattened in thedirection of the post and having heads, asomewhat H-shaped piecedefining wtwo spaced holes large enough to receive and turn around onthe studs, with narrower approach slots from the endsof' said piece'tosaid holes dimensioned to receive a a, sch mathestuds",edgewisejbutiiiot crosswise, said piecerbeiiigfwhereuponitfcontinues turning another" half turn and slides tofzastilllower stud, and so on.

5. A tumbling toy comprising a nearly upright but sloping post carryinga lineof uniformly spaced studs, said .-studs;being flattened in thedirection of the post and having thin heads, a somewhat H-shaped piecedefining two spaced holes large enough to receive and turn around on thestuds, with narrower approach slots from the ends of said piece to saidholes dimensioned to receive the studs edgewise but not crosswise, saidpiece being longer than the spacing between the studs, and the distancebetween either hole and the remote end of the piece being less than the;spacing between the studs, a figurewith outstretched arms and legslarger than said piece secured in front of said piece and spacedtherefrom enough to clear the heads of the studs, whereby thefigure whenplaced on a top stud turns alhalf turn and slides to a next lower studwhereupon it continues turning another half turn and slides to a stilllower stud, and ,so on-, ,with the figure concealing the piece and itscoaction with the studs.

6. A tumbling toy comprising a post carrying a line of studs, said studsbeing flattened in the direction of the post, a somewhat H-shaped piecedefining two spaced holes large enough to receive and turnaround on thestuds, with narrower approach slots from the ends of said piece to saidholes dimensioned to receive the studs edgewise but not crosswise, saidpiece being longer than the spacing between the studs, and the distancebetween either hole and the remote end of the piece being less than thespacing between the studs, a figure substantially larger than said piecesecured in front of said piece, whereby the figure when placed on a topstud turns a half turn and slides to a next lower stud whereupon itcontinues turning another half turn and slides to a still lower stud,and so on, and a simulated head pivoted on said figure on a pinextending from front to back for free rotation relative to said figure,said pivot being so located relative to the head that the center of massis below the pivot, whereby the head remains upright during the tumblingrotation of the figure and thereby appears to be rotating relative tothe figure.

7. A tumbling toy comprising a post carrying'a line of studs, said studsbeing flattened in the direction of the post and having heads, asomewhat H-shapedpiece defining two spaced holes large enough to receiveand turn around on the studs, with narrower approach slots from the endsof said piece to said holes dimensioned to receive the studs edgewisebut not crosswise, said piece being longer than the spacing between thestuds, and the distance between either hole and the remote end of thepiece being less than the spacing between the studs, a figuresubstantially larger than said piece secured in front of said piece andspaced therefrom enough to clear the heads of the studs, whereby thefigure when placed on a top stud turns a half turn and slides to a nextlower stud whereupon it continues turning another half turn and slidesto a still lower stud, and so on, and a simulated head pivoted on saidfigure on a pin extending from front to back for free rotation relativetosaid figure, said pivot being so located relative to the head that thecenter of mass is below the pivot, whereby the head remains uprightduring the tumbling rotation of the figure and thereby appears to berotating relative to the figure. e

8. A tumbling toy comprising a nearly upright but sloping post carryinga line of uniformly spaced studs,

the studs edgewise but not crosswise, said piece being longer than thespacing between the studs, and the" dis} tance between either hole andthe remote end of the piece being less than. the spacing between thestuds, a figure substantially larger than said piece secured in front ofsaid piece and spaced therefrom enough to, clear the heads of the studs,whereby the figure when placed on a top stud turns a half turntandslides to a next lower stud whereupon it continues turning another halfturn and slides to a still lower stud, and so on, and} simulated headpivoted on said figure on a pin extending from front to back for freerotation relative tosaid figure, said pivot being so located relative tothe head that the center of mass is below the pivot, whereby the headremains upright during the tumbling rotation of the figure and therebyappears to be rotating relative to the figure.

9. A tumbling toy comprising a nearly upright but sloping post carryinga line of uniformly spaced studs,

said studs being flattened in the direction of the post and having thinheads, a somewhat H-shaped piece defining two spaced holes large enoughto receive and turn around on the studs,with narrower approach slotsfrom the ends of said piece to said holes dimensioned to receive thestuds edgewise but not crosswise, said piece being longer than thespacing between the studs, and the distance between either hole and theremote end of the piece being less than the spacing between the studs, afigure with outstretched arms and legs substantially larger than saidpiece secured in front of said piece and spaced therefrom enough toclear the heads of the studs, whereby the figure when placed on a topstud turns a half turn and slides to a next lower stud whereupon itcontinues turning another half turn and slides to a still lower stud,and so on, with the figure concealing the piece and its coaction withthe studs, and a simulated head pivoted on said figure for free rotationrelative to said figure on a pin extending from front to back, saidpivot being so located relative to the head that the center of mass isbelow the pivot, whereby the head remains upright during the tumblingrotation of the figure and thereby appears to be rotating relative tothe figure.

10. A tumbling toy comprising a nearly upright but sloping post carryinga line of uniformly spaced studs, said studs being flattened in thedirection of the post and having thin heads, a somewhat H-shaped piecedefining two spaced holes large enough to receive and turn around on thestuds, with narrower approach slots from the ends of said piece to saidholes dimensioned to re ceive the studs edgewise but not crosswise, saidpiece being longer than the spacing between the studs, and the distancebetween either'hole and the remote end of the piece being less than thespacing between the studs, a clown figure with outstretched arms andlegs substantially larger than said piece secured in front of said pieceand spaced therefrom enough to clear the heads of the studs, whereby thefigure when'placed on a top stud turns a half turn and slides to a nextlower stud whereupon it continues turning another half turn and slidesto a still lower stud, and so on, with the figure concealing the pieceand its coaction with the studs, and a simulated head assembly pivotedon said figure for free rotation relative to said figure on a pinextending from front to back, said head assembly simulating a headwearing a dunce cap and having a spread collar portion, and said pivotbeing so located relative to the head that the center of mass,

is below the pivot, whereby the head assembly remains upright during thetumbling rotation of the figure and.

thereby appears to be rotating relative to the figure.

11. A tumbling toy comprising a base detachably supporting a nearlyupright but sloping post carrying a line qfiuniiornily spaced studs,said post'being made in two readily separable halveshaving mating meansattheir adjacent ends, said studs being flattened in the direction ofthe post, a somewhat H-shaped piece defining two spaced holes largeenough to receive and turn around on the studs, with narrower approachslots from the ends of said piece to said holes to receive the studsedgewise but not crosswise, said piece being longer than the spacingbetween the studs, and the distancetbetween either hole and the remoteend of the piece being less than the spacing between the studs, wherebythe piece when placed on a top stud turns a half turn edgewise andslides to 'a next lower stud whereupon it continues turning another halfturn edgewise and slides to a still lower stud and soon.

\ 12; A tumbling toy comprising a base detachably supporting a nearlyupright but sloping post carrying a line of uniformly spaced studs, saidpost being made in two readily separable halves having mating means attheir adjacent ends, said studs being flattened in the direction of'thepost and having heads, a somewhat H-shaped piece defining two spacedholes large enough to receive and turn around on the studs, withnarrower approach slots from the ends of said piece to said holes toreceive the studs edgewise but not crosswise, said piece being longerthan the spacing between the studs, and the distance between either holeand the remote end of the piece being less than the spacing between thestuds, a figure substantially larger than said piece secured in front ofsaid piece and spaced therefrom enough to clear the heads of the studs,whereby the piece when placed on a top stud turns a half turn and slidesto a next lower stud whereupon it continues turning another half turnand slides to a still lower stud and'so on.

' 13. A tumbling toy comprising a post'carrying a line of uniformlyspaced studs, said studs being flattened in the direction of the post, asomewhat H-shaped piece defining two spaced holes large enough toreceive and turn around the studs, with narrower approach slots from theends of said piece to said holes dimensioned to receive the studsedgewise but not crosswise, said piece being longer than the spacingbetween the studs, and the distance between either hole and the remoteend of the piece being less than the spacing between the studs, wherebythe piece when placed on a top stud turns a half turn edgewise andslides to a next lower stud whereupon it continues turning another halfturn edgew-ise and slides to a still lower stud and so on.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS768,300 Probes Aug. 23, 1904

